Sagawa Art Museum

This striking building in Shiga Prefecture is an art museum. I was impressed by the exterior, with its long, low profile and shallow pond, but when I saw the "under-water room" I was enchanted. Light is filtered through water in the pond above, creating a mysterious and extremely beautiful atmosphere in the space.  The museum includes a tea-room that appears to be an island in the pond. The museum's permanent collections includes works by famous Japanese ceramic artist Raku Kichizaemon and painter Hirayama Ikuo.